2011 Draft: Yankees agree to sign 14th rounder Rookie Davis

Via Jim Callis, the Yankees have agreed to sign 14th round pick Rookie Davis for $550,000, which is obviously well-above MLB’s slot recommendation. It’s the largest bonus given to a player outside of the top three rounds so far this year, by any team. Davis, a right-hander who stands 6-foot-4 and 235 lbs., is said to own “an 89-92 mph fastball and a promising curveball.” Here’s some video.

And yes, that’s the first of many, so I don’t want to hear any complaining out of you kids!

Alfredo

this kids curve ball looke pretty nasty! we might have signed a future first round pick nice sign.

Avi

Any word if they’re gonna use him as a hitter or pitcher? He’s supposed to have huge power.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Definitely a pitcher. There’s nothing special about right-right high school first basemen.

Avi

I see. $550k seems like a lot for him. I guess with his size there’s project-ability there.

Ted Nelson

Just my 2-cents… but Yankees seemed to have focused on spreading their $ around to more good prospects the last couple of drafts than giving a huge portion of it to one or two great prospects. One can argue either way and a lot of it’s got to be case-by-case (when the Cole or Brackman is on the board Yankees have pounced in the past), but there’s definitely a case to be made for this approach.

Tristen Balazs

I went to high school with him at Dixon high in holly ridge nc he played short stop and pitcher he has amazing power and could hit a ball about 400 ft I seen it myself so I think they should use him as a hitter as well as a pitcher.

Bruce

I didn’t like the way he took grounders at first. He kind of took a “bull-fighter” approach, rather than get his body behind the ball. If the ball takes a funny bounce, it’s past you, and you’re looking at a double down the line. But, I guess we didn’t sign him to be a first baseman.

AnthonyD

How well regarded is he? Was he considered a very tough sign?

Ted Nelson

A lot of people doubted that they would sign him. I’m definitely pumped that they did. Cave, Sharp, and couple others… this draft is looking good.

He wouldn’t have fallen to the 14th round if teams thought he’d be an easy sign.

yankee_lover

is he a starter or a reliever

hogsmog

We know this information, but won’t tell you out of spite.

Ted Nelson

As a kid signed out of HS I have to figure they’ll try to start him… but making any MLB impact ever is a real long-shot for most prospects… especially guys taken in the 14th round and signed for half a mill (which is a lot, but half of what a Betances or Mason Williams got)… so if he ends up an MLB reliever that would be a victory.

CP

Williams actually signed for $1.45M.

Gonzo

Somebody help me.

His delivery looks very familiar. Any ideas?

Might even be a retired player.

SDM

his mechanics kind of looked like a right handed version of CC’s

Rod

He kind of reminds me of Matt Cain delivery-wise

Steamed Clams

I see a lot of classic Livan Hernandez on his delivery

Jim Fetters

His delivery looks like Jaret Wright to me.

pat

Rookie Davis sounds like a computer generated Madden player.

BigTimeBartolo

haha the computer generated names are so funny.

Some good ones:

Tim Tibrow
Leron James
Roman Battles

http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Matt Imbrogno

The best was Jordan in all the NBA games:

Roster Player #89

pat

Madden 2011 also had Sleepy Richardson and Joker Davis. One of my favorite players was Tiger Hawthorne.

http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Drafted a linebacker in Madden a few years ago named Bam Cleveland.

Rich in NJ

Either his parents suspected that he could be a big-time athlete, or they have a reasonably good sense of humor…or maybe both.

crawdaddie

Rookie is his nickname, his first name is William.

http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7

His real first name is William.

CP

His given name is William Davis – Rookie is just a nickname, so I’m not sure they had any inside information.

Rich in NJ

*slaps head*

http://www.yankeeanalysts.com/ Matt Imbrogno

6’4″, 225, huh? That’s a great frame, no? He should be able to add velo, right?

Ted Nelson

Davis was definitely on my wish list from that draft haul and a lot of people seemed to doubt he would sign, so I’m psyched they got him. Would like to see Cave sign as much as anyone left, though I could see him going down to the wire and getting a 9 figure bonus. Sharp and Camarena plus the rest of the top 7 to go with the college relievers, Bichette, James, and Davis? I’d be pumped.

Zangief

“Would like to see Cave sign as much as anyone left, though I could see him going down to the wire and getting a 9 figure bonus.”

This has to be a typo.

Louis

Nah he’s gonna get a lifetime contract that pays 3 mill every year he’s alive. Ya know, the yanks wanna lock him up long term because they know he’ll be a superstar.

Dave

Nine figures may be steep :)

Cam

This an excerpt from NC newspaper on Rookie:

“As a senior, Davis hit .524 with 31 RBIs and 11 home runs. He also went 9-0 on the mound with a 1.02 earned run average and 136 strikeouts to lead Dixon to a fourth consecutive Coastal Plains 1-A Conference title and emerge as The Daily News’ baseball player of the year for the second straight season.

Davis is highly regarded in several draft orders.

He’s the No. 35 overall top prospect according to mlbfanhouse.com, No. 36 overall according to mlbbonusbaby.com and is ranked as the sixth-best first baseman on baseballdraftreport.com.

Still, Davis isn’t concerned with any of the projections, which predict he’ll go in the top three rounds.”

According to this he seems like a bargain at 550k.

Jake H

I found him on bonus baby at 110 not 36

Cam

That article was from June 10th so maybe the updated it?

Cuso

Ick, Awful glove and awful bat (floating stride).

Nice looking curve though. Looks like he can paint the black on the outside to righties, too.

When he fills out some more, he should be able to use that frame to get his heater up to the 94-95 range.

It’d be a shame to put a name like his to waste. Here’s to hoping he makes it.

http://google.com B!

GOOD JOB ROOK!

http://google.com B!

we all love you rook!

Miranda Davis

good job Rook; take it to em cuz! love you.

Kay

ive seen rookie play and know him on a personal note he’s a big guy but very normal . and a great athlete cant wait to see him play

Retha

He is my grand nephew & I have never seen a more devoted baseball player while he was growing up. It’s a shame most of you don’t understand what kind of man he is & how he feels about the game he plays. His father a great mentor & a former pitcher too, was instrumental in his love & development with the game. He has a great background for what he’s doing & a great deal of support from his family; however, that aside, with his work ethic, I think all of you have underestimated him. Time will be the working force to show everyone who doubted this young man abilities, what the Yankees have really gained by signing him so cheaply, as some of you might say! Believe me, he’s worth a whole lot more….he’s still growing, maturing & getting better day by day!